On the 24 January 2015 and again on the 1 February 2015 we went for a walk along the Leigh branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The Leigh Branch was first proposed in 1800 after the completion of the extension of the Bridgewater Canal from Worsley to Leigh, the link would connect the canal to Manchester and the rest of the canal network. The first Act failed in 1803 and it wasn't until after the main line of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal was completed that a successful bill was presented to Parliament that was agreeable to all parties. The branch opened in December 1820 and cost £61,419.

Bridge 6 - Gerrards Bridge

Bridge abutment from what I believe was the Wigan Junction Branch of the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway. This is located on the North side of the Canal, any remains of the bridge on the South side have disappeared although in the distance you can see an embankment where the tracks used to run.

Bridge No. 4 - Dover Bridge

This is the site of the former Dover Lock number 1. The lock is now abandoned and replaced by locks closer to Wigan.

A view of the canal and footpath on what was a bright, dry but cold day.

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My interest in ships and the sea started back in 2006 when I worked for a couple of years on the banks of the River Mersey. I have since been on a couple of cruises around the Med and in the Far East and have started to take more interest in researching and photographing some of the ships and other vessels seen on my travels.